Debt Obligations 1 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit Facilities	$ 200,000	$ 297,051
Credit Facilities Fair Value	200,009	301,312
Total consolidated debt obligations	3,703,626	3,819,040
Total consolidated debt obligations fair value	3,964,549	3,991,204
Less current portion of long-term debt	343,254	1,083
Less short-term debt	200,000	297,051
Total long-term debt	3,160,372	3,520,906
Senior Notes due 2024 [Member] | Southern Union [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.60%	7.60%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	359,765	359,765
Long Term Debt Fair Value	417,666	392,144
Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] | Southern Union [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.25%	8.25%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	300,000	300,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	386,112	332,922
Senior Notes Due 2029 [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.00%	7.00%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	66,305	66,305
Long Term Debt Fair Value	75,128	69,911
First Mortgage Bonds due 2020 to 2027 [Member] | Southern Union [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate Minimum	7.24%	7.24%
Interest Rate Maximum	9.44%	9.44%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	19,500	19,500
Long Term Debt Fair Value	23,439	21,473
Junior Subordinated Notes due 2066 [Member] | Southern Union [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.20%	7.20%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	600,000	600,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	546,480	609,743
Term Loan 2013 [Member] | Southern Union [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	250,000	250,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	251,854	249,915
Note Payable [Member] | Southern Union [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	7,746	8,297
Long Term Debt Fair Value	7,746	8,297
Senior Notes due 2013 [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.05%	6.05%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	250,000	250,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	265,573	268,988
Senior Notes due 2017 [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.20%	6.20%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	300,000	300,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	340,494	322,893
Senior Notes due 2019 [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	8.125%	8.125%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	150,000	150,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	185,301	169,671
Senior Notes due 2018 [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.00%	7.00%
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	400,000	400,000
Long Term Debt Fair Value	467,072	442,120
Term Loan 2012 [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	797,386	815,391
Long Term Debt Fair Value	794,751	799,084
Net Premiums [Member] | Panhandle [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total Long Term Debt Carrying Value	2,924	2,731
Long Term Debt Fair Value	$ 2,924	$ 2,731